Work Text:
Mike was sick of it. Sick of himself. Sick of the wanting in the pit of his stomach, in the corners of his brain, the nerves in his hands. He scorned himself for how long it took him to realize it. To realize this–this need that existed in every cell in his body.
When Vecna had come back, Mike was terrified. Seeing him was enough to scare Mike shitless, causing him not to flee or fight when the demogorgon attacked him. But then, like a guardian angel coming to save him, Will stopped it. Saved Mike. And coincidentally, made his heart shake.
Mike's heart had held all of his friends and family, El. Will has always had a special place, but its size had been hidden, all this time. Watching him kill the demogorgon with ease, wiping the blood from his nose, knowing he had powers and had used them to protect Mike, brought all the feelings he had hidden in his heart bursting to the surface. To shake with the realization. He quite literally couldn't handle it
And now. Now–what? What exactly? Will was his friend, his best friend. But he wanted more. It came to him suddenly, just how much he wanted. On the silent ride back to WSQK, he felt the urge to reach out, to touch, to feel, to say so many things he never knew were sitting on the tip of his tongue.
This whole time, he had loved Will. El, he had… loved her, but more as a trauma-bonded and emotionally attached friend. He had known this since they broke up months earlier, and perhaps even earlier than that. And now, it was so painstakingly obvious who he had really loved all along. Will.
Ever since that night, Mike wanted so badly to reach out. To touch, to talk, to confess. To tell Will everything and just see what would happen. How he would react.
He decided he would start small, and if the feeling was right, well. He would trust himself.
----
The next day, while everyone was planning the right way to defeat Vecna, now that they had the powers of Will, El, and Kali (Mike was unsure of the nature of El’s “sister”, but she seemed just as determined to save the day, so he couldn't really argue with how she fitted into the picture) Mike got Will alone.
“Hey,” He said, sitting down on the couch next to Will. All the others had run off to do other things, leaving them alone in the basement. Will was deep in thought, but at the sound of Mike’s voice, he straightened up, eyes snapping to him.
“Hey,” He returned, with a slight unsureness.
“I just realized I never got the chance to say thank you. You know, for yesterday. After, everyone was going crazy on how to get the kids back and El and Kali, so I couldn't talk to you. But, really, you saved my ass. Thank you.” Mike bumped his knee against Will’s, casually, testing the waters.
Will looks down at their knees, up at Mike, then down at their knees again. “I…you don't have to thank me, I just–”
“Dont bullshit me, Will, that was insane! All that I said, about you being a sorcerer–I mean, my theory was right! You have powers, and you used them…” He elbows Will, forcing the other boy to make eye contact with him. “To save me.”
Will smiles, almost bashfully, and Mike swears his heart grows to double its size. How had he never realized the beauty of the boy sitting right next to him? “I…” He looked at Mike, down, up again.
“Just say it.”
“Say what?
“You’re welcome.”
“Oh,” Will laughed a little. “Alright. You're welcome.”
Mike grins. “See, that wasn't so hard.”
Will matches Mike’s grin, and bumps his elbow back. Mike blushes, looking down. Maybe…
“You should test your powers out, you know, figure out what more you can do.” Mike insists, not so subtly scooting closer to will, shifting so he's fully facing him, arm resting on the couch's cushions.
“I don't know… I mean, just doing that was enough to tire me out completely.” Will sighs, seemingly noticing Mike's closeness. For a second, Mike thought Will might scoot away, or turn rigid. Instead, he leans into Mike. Copies Mike's position, facing him head on. Their knees and thighs touch. Mike feels warmth bloom throughout his whole body, and his fingers have the sudden urge to take Will’s hand. Why not? Will was his safe space, and nothing he could do would change that, he knew their friendship was more than confusion over a touch. So…
Mike stares at Will, who stares right back, frozen. He slowly reaches out, grabbing Will’s pinky and interlacing it with his. “Still, I bet you can do amazing things.” The words came out as a whisper, a secret, an admission. Will’s eyes move indecipherably fast, and it's hard for Mike to tell just what he is looking for. Those eyes, those deep, beautiful eyes, search all of Mike. His whole face, his legs, down his arms, until they reach the spot where Mike had intertwined his pinky with Will’s.
“Mike…” He says, voice shaking. “Are you…”
“Yes,” Mike blurts out. “Whatever you were gonna ask. Yes.”
Will laughs, however nervously. “You don't know what I was gonna say! How could you say yes?”
“Because I will always say yes. To you.” Mike smiles, feeling confident after seeing Will’s nervousness, his wandering eyes, his closeness. “So just ask.”
“I don't think I can.” Will squeezes his eyes shut.
“Why not?”
“It's hard to just outrightly say it.” Will opens one eye, squinting at Mike.
“Can you show me, then?” Mike questions, butterflies swarming in his stomach as Will's pinky twitches.
He sighs, opening both his eyes now, and without breaking eye contact, he slowly unravels his pinky from Mikes. “Okay.”
Will brings his hand to Mike's cheek, and he swears that single touch is enough to knock him out forever. He sucks in a breath, staring at Will's eyes, which seem extremely focused. His thumb then slowly graces Mike's nose, his eyebrows, his ear, till his hand settles in the space between Mike's neck and shoulder.
Mike's hand twitches, once again filled with the urge to touch Will. To do what Will did to him to the other boy. But he stays still, not wanting to ruin the moment.
Will's gaze is nervous, darting around Mike's face. His eyes land on Mike's lips, and he leans closer, until there's only an inch or two between them. His hand flies higher up Mike's neck, till it's against his jaw, slightly tickling his ear.
Mike isn't breathing, he's frozen, waiting. His eyes fall to Will's lips, which are parted and look so undeniably soft and welcoming. Mike feels himself lean closer. He wants this so bad, he might explode if Will doesn't let him–
“Is this okay?” Mike asks, reaching his hand up to Will's shoulder. He hesitates, before slowly moving his thumb, painting circles on Wills back.
Will nodded, eyes wide, hand frozen against Mike's neck. “You…Can I–” He looked up at Mike's eyes, then down to his lips and back up again, not finishing his sentence before he kissed Mike.
It lasted only a second or two, not long enough to really feel it. Will pulled away, looking shocked and maybe filled with a little dread. “I'm sorry–I should've asked, we can just–”
Mike pulls Will closer, shutting him up by pressing his lips to Wills. Will lets out a small surprised noise, before melting into the kiss. Mike moves his other hand from the cushions and grabs Will's waist, feeling his warmth.
Will brought his other hand to Mike's hair, running his hands through the curls. Mike melts at that–because holy shit, it felt good, pressing his lips harder against Will’s, kissing him and kissing him and shit–He was kissing Will. Will. His best friend. His everything. How had he missed this? This undeniable, excruciating, and beautiful feeling he could've had so much sooner, if he wasn't stupid. His thoughts couldn't linger at his own stupidity for long, as Will kept kissing him. How was he so good at kissing? As far as Mike knew, Will had never kissed anyone before. Yet his lips were so soft, so sure, chasing Mike’s with an urgency that made Mike want to fall onto his bed and squeal into his pillow. It felt so good, it felt so right. He couldn't get enough.
Will was so close, and was kissing Mike with such fervor, and he needed more. He wanted everything. He swiped his tongue against Wills, and Wills mouth dropped open with a small noise.
Mike moved closer and closer, until there was no distance between them. The feeling of nerves and hopelessness over Vecna and Holly and his parents all disappeared, and the only thing on his mind was the feeling of Will's lips and tongue and hands in his hair, against his jaw. Mike moved his hand from Will's waist to his chest, fingers brushing over his collarbone until rising to his shoulder. Will shivered at the touch, and in response, pulled at Mike's hair harder.
Jesus fucking Christ.
He couldn't get enough. His body wanted more and more and more, and soon it was almost too much, he couldn't breathe. Will's hands and lips were burning into Mike.
Will, seemingly coming to the same conclusion, broke the kiss, breathing fast, lips and cheeks red. He stared at Mike.
Mike stared back, eyes tracing every beautiful feature on Will's face. His parted red lips, his nose and his eyes.
“I'm glad you showed me.” Mike said, breathily. That seemed to break the spell both of them were under, as Will started to laugh. But then, his face turned more questioning, and he backed up slightly from Mike.
“You…You just…” His voice was soft, hesitant, like he couldn't believe it. Mike wanted to kiss him again.
“Kissed you? Yeah. I did.” Mike said. “I want to again.”
Will's eyes grew even bigger, disbelieving. “But–What about El? I didn't even know you–”
“Liked you? Yeah, I didn't either.” Mike sighed. “Until last night, it all came to me. That you…I mean, you were just so…beautiful. I realized how stupid I had been to ever even look at anyone else, it's always been you. I was stupid, I should've realized sooner, and I'm sorry–”
“Mike,” Will said softly, “It's okay.” His cheeks were red, and his eyes were so intently staring into Mike’s.
“So…you…” The words feeling awkward on his tongue, Mike struggled to ask the question he was dying to know the answer to.
“Like you? Yeah. I have for a long time.” Will said.
Mike's stomach flipped. “How long?”
Will shifts, starting at the wall across from them. “I don't know exactly when it started, I mean. I think, to some extent, I…always have.”
Mike’s heart breaks. All this time, Will had watched Mike with El, sacrificing his own feelings to make them happy. “I'm sorry. God–”
“It's okay.” Will said.
“No, it's not. This whole time–”
“It doesn't matter, Mike.” Will insisted, slowly grabbing Mike's hand and intertwining their fingers. “You figured it out.”
Mike stared at their intertwined hands, smiling. “Yeah. I did.” He looks up at Will, whose smile matches Mike’s.
“I really like you.” Mike blurted, squeezing Will's hand.
“I really like you, too.” Will murmured, his other hand drifting to Mike’s chest, settling on his heart. “This doesn't feel real.”
Mike’s brain filled with the thought of Will, wanting him for so long he had thought it was hopeless. That the idea of Mike liking him back, flirting with him, kissing him, was nothing more than a dream. He felt guilty, knowing he could've made Will so much happier so much earlier. But, he supposed, he could always make up for lost time now.
“It's real. I'm real.” Mike affirmed. He grabbed the hand Will had rested on his chest and brought it to his cheek.
Will met his eyes, still seeming to be in disbelief.
Now that just wouldn't do. Mike brought their lips together, slow and sure, this time. The kiss was soft, smooth. Mike pressed into Will, hoping the action said, I'm here, I'm real, and I need you. I need you more than anything else in this whole world.
Will pressed back, and Mike knew it meant he understood.
That they were finally on the same page.